Haley carefully made her way through downtown Boston. She had left a message with Peyton and Nathan that she had errands to run in the city. She needed to visit the Massachusetts State Board of Nursing building, something about completing paperwork for her license renewal. With no duties or trips planned for the day, Haley had been loaned a vehicle for her personal use. Finding the address she had jotted down on the scrap paper, she parked and made her way into the main lobby of the office. As instructed, she approached the front counter and simply gave her name. Seconds later, she was whisked away to a small office in the back. A makeshift nameplate hung on the door that read, A. McPheasron, Renewals. But once Haley opened the door, she found herself in direct contact with some familiar faces.
"Nice setup," she looked around, nodding with approval.
Special Agent Rodney Altson, gave his subordinate a smile.
"You never know who's following you and it looks like you've got old Danny boy shaking in his boots. Good job, kid."
Haley smiled as she took a seat. Agent Alston was there, along with the always stern faced, Supervisory Special Agent, Roger Bailey. Another male, a Boston based FBI agent by the name of Arnold Edmondson, joined them.
"So," Haley began. "What brought up this meeting? I mean, is everything okay?"
"Everything is going smoothly and right on schedule," Edmondson answered. "We have surveillance on all of Scott's vehicles entering and leaving his property as well as specific documentation to his whereabouts when not in your presence."
Haley nodded.
"That's fine or whatever but I've been thinking…"
Bailey rolled his eyes.
"Oh dear, here we go. I hate when that happens."
"Hear me out, sir. I have been living and breathing this case for the past couple of months. I'm always in my case files, always researching and looking at evidence. But I am also in that house. Day to day, I am a part of the lives of this family. It has been my job getting to know them, profiling them, figuring out every little detail."
"And?"
"Based on my findings, it is my professional opinion that Dan Scott is the man we're after. I feel like he is the person guilty of all the white collar crimes and if anyone killed Daunte Johnson, it was him. I'd like to focus my attention more on him as a suspect than the entire family."
"Why Dan Scott only?" Alston inquired.
"I know this might not be good enough for you right now, but it's a hunch…a very strong hunch."
"Agent James…"
"The man is a pig."
"Last time I checked, that didn't make someone guilty."
"He fits the profile. Think about it. Dan is our guy. Tax evasion, fraud, gambling debts, points shaving. I can totally see him doing that and I plan on proving it."
"James, of course we think Dan Scott is in on it. The more evidence you can build against, him the better. We'd love to put his sorry ass away for a lot of years but the primary focus of this investigation is Nathan Scott."
"I understand that but I have strong feelings that Nathan is innocent."
"Nathan Scott is no angel. See that stack of papers over there?" Alston pointed. "You have copies of all that documentation in your file. There is proof, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Nathan Scott failed for at least four of the last five years to report certain income on his tax returns."
"I saw that sir, but with all due respect, if it's such an open and shut case, then why didn't we throw the book at Nathan on that in the beginning?"
"Because we need more and bet your bottom dollar, there is a lot more."
Haley sighed.
"From what I know, Nathan is very focused on his basketball. It's his career, his life. He loves it. Everything else that goes on…finances, details, business negotiations…it's like he couldn't care less. You know as well as I do there are teams of people hired just to do the business portion of his life."
"Your point?"
"My point is, all that stuff with the tax evasion charges could have happened right under Nathan's nose and he doesn't even know about it. Who knows? I mean, Dan could have hired someone to handle it and maybe they did and Nathan has no clue what's even going on. And the points shaving or throwing games? Well, I definitely don't believe that. Nathan loves the game too much. It's too important to him."
Alston jotted a few notes on his pad.
"And your professional opinion concerning the rest of the family?"
"Lucas and Brooke have nothing to do with anything. Lucas may know of some things and I think in the future, his cooperation can and will be very relevant to what we're trying to do. But Brooke? No way. She doesn't get involved. She's totally oblivious."
"And Mrs. Scott?"
"Deb? She knows a lot, obviously. Give me more time with her. I need to build more trust so I can talk to her when she's sober. But I have a feeling in Federal court, if we could get around the spousal privilege part, Deb would make an excellent witness for the prosecution."
"Onto the case of murder. You do not believe Nathan was involved?"
"Honestly? No. He isn't capable of it. I mean, I am looking at this through the eyes of an investigator both objectively and without bias but I really think Dan is our murderer."
"And the wife? Asher Fields Scott?"
"That's gonna take some time. It's the proverbial forbidden subject but I'm working on it."
"Agent James…"
Bailey stood up and interrupted.
"I for one, and I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, think you are doing an impeccable job, Agent James."
Haley frowned. Was Agent Bailey feeling okay? He hated her.
"Impeccable, sir? Really?"
"Really. You are our secret weapon in this case. You are the key."
"I am?"
"You ever heard the old saying, give 'em enough rope and watch them hang themselves? Well, truer words were never spoken in this case. Is Dan Scott guilty? You bet. There are no doubts in my mind. I also think Nathan Scott is guilty as well. The question is…guilty of exactly what and to what extent. The answer to all those questions, what will crack this case wide open, lies with Nathan Scott and what information we can get from him."
"I don't get it."
"Nathan Scott, fortunately for us, isn't very smart. Those Scotts like their money and their power but they also like their women. And that's where you come in."
"Me?"
Bailey rolled his eyes.
"Do I have to spell it out for you, James? Nathan Scott has developed a strong interest, an attraction, if you will, for his nurse, Haley Webb. And I want you to use that, milk it for all it's worth."
"How?"
"How? Flirt with him. Play his little game. Let him romance you."
"Agent Bailey, are you saying part of going undercover is being Nathan Scott's girlfriend?"
Bailey leaned in closer.
"I am saying you do whatever you have to do to garner die hard evidence and a confession from Scott. Play your cards right and you'll have that boy singing like a canary."
Haley's face turned beet red as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Everything alright, James?" Edmondson inquired.
"I, I'm fine, it's just…well, I don't know. I guess I'm a little shocked. I mean, this is my first undercover assignment. I get the fact that it is one big game of pretend. It's one thing to be Nathan's nurse but um, uh, it, it's quite another to pretend to seduce him, if that's what you're insinuating."
"Whoa, whoa…no one said you had to sleep with the guy. We just need you to get closer. It's obvious this guy has a thing for you. All Agent Bailey is saying is, you use that to your advantage. Take the upcoming Hall of Fame event in Memphis. There will be lots of parties, lots of downtime. It's the perfect opportunity to get more, shall we say, acquainted with Nathan Scott."
"But…"
"Is there a problem, Agent James?" Bailey sternly asked.
Haley was confused. She hadn't thought of Nathan in that way. The fact that she was being pushed in the direction of creating a possible romantic relationship with him unnerved her in many ways. Ethically, it seemed very inappropriate. Personally to Haley, it seemed a bit like legalized prostitution. Her bosses were basically telling her to do whatever she had to do, including possibly sleeping with their prime suspect, to build a case. It was already difficult enough infiltrating the family, pretending to be a loyal employee and friend. Playing with an already vulnerable and fragile heart just didn't seem right.
"No," she finally conceded. "I, I'm fine. There is no problem."
"Good," Bailey rubbed his hands together. "Then we have an understanding because if we didn't, I would not hesitate to relieve you of your duties and remove you from this case."
"Wait a minute," Alston interjected, as Haley swallowed hard.
"Yes, Agent Alston?" Bailey raised his eyebrows.
"Perhaps there is another way. Maybe we're jumping the gun."
"Nonsense."
"Sir, I don't think this is the proper way to go. Not to try to override your judgment as I understand the final call is yours, but as Agent James' immediate supervisor, I have to speak up and request that we rethink this path."
"And the basis of your apprehension?"
Alston looked around, his eyes meeting Haley's. He liked her. She was a nice girl and although green, he had no doubt one day she would make a fine, seasoned federal investigator. But he couldn't agree with the current plan.
"I don't think James is ready."
"I beg your pardon."
"Agent James, you have done a fine job so far. If you keep heading in the same direction, I know that in due time, we will have everything we need to proceed with a federal prosecution. But what was just decided? It will never work. Not to take anything away from your professional abilities, but I feel this new arrangement spells trouble with a capital T. There is a fine line here and we must be careful not to cross it. Agent James, what happens if you develop real feelings for Nathan Scott? Because honestly, I could see that happening."
Haley was at a temporary loss for words.
"I, I don't know," she stammered. "I mean, that would never happen, sir. This case and my career are extremely important to me. I would never do anything to jeopardize that. I am a professional and I have a job to do and that clearly means distinguishing between what is real and what is part of the assignment."
Bailey gave a satisfied smirk.
"And there you have it. Well spoken, James. Agent Alston, I appreciate your concern and input but it appears your employee has the situation all under control, don't you, Agent James?"
"Yes sir," she replied, turning to Alston. "Please trust me on this one, Boss. I can handle it."
Not having much of a choice, he gave a hesitant and reluctant nod.
"That will be all for you," Edmondson handed her a prepared document to support the story about needing paperwork for Haley Webb's nursing license. "Keep up the good work and we will be in touch."
"Thank you," Haley said as she made her exit. "I won't disappoint you."
And then she was gone, closing the door behind her.
"We're gonna get those sons of bitches, mark my word," Bailey sat back in his chair.
Alston was still not so sure the right decision had been made.
"It's no good, sir. That was a bad idea. She can't handle it. You saw her. She already has befriended him, thinking he's innocent of everything he has been accused of and that's clearly not the case. James is way too emotional, too…nice. She's going to fall for him and all hell will break loose when she does. You can take that one to the bank."
Roger Bailey just grinned as he put a Cuban cigar in his mouth and lit it.
"That may happen but not before he spills some very important and damning secrets during a little pillow talk. And we'll have everything on tape and I'll have everything I need from proof of fraud to murder one to snuff out the entire Scott dynasty and put those bastards away for good, all of them."
"If this thing blows up, Agent James could lose her badge. It could mean the end of her career."
Agent Bailey only laughed.
"Who gives a damn? It would mean the crowning achievement of mine."
No one wanted a conviction more than Alston but at what cost? And he wanted only the truly guilty parties to be hurt. But what about the rest of the Scott family that was innocent? And what about Haley James?